A Few Weeks Before Your Wedding Day
Eat low fat foods. If you are trying to lose weight, eating low fat foods is the easiest way to lose weight. Prepare your own lunches for work using as little or no butter, margarine, mayonnaise, or oil as possible. In general, it is more difficult to control the fat in your diet when eating out or having take-out food. If you choose to eat out, order grilled, or baked lean meats that have no added fats. Be aware that some salads have a higher fat content and thus more calories, than some meat dishes. Caeser dressing, or any cream-based dressings will be high in fat.
Avoid 'junk foods' such as fatty fast foods, chips, doughnuts, chocolate bars and pop. Have three regular meals each day. In the middle of the afternoon, have a light or low calorie snack, such as fresh fruit or some crackers with low fat cheese. This will maintain your energy level and control your appetite before dinner. Skipping breakfast and, or lunch will only cause your body to slow down; that is your body will not burn as much energy if you skip meals. Therefore, you will tend to gain weight and get that sense of fatigue so commonly experienced by people who skip meals or who try to lose weight quickly.
If you are trying to lose weight, avoid crash diets. Forget trying to lose weight quickly. Start early (at least a few months before the wedding), and go slowly. This way you will lose weight safely and permanently. A common error people make is to overestimate how many calories they burn off with a small amount of exercise. For example, you would have to jog for about one hour and a half to burn off a large bran muffin.
At each meal, have a high starch food, such as bread, potatoes, pasta, or rice. These foods are energy-releasing foods. They provide your blood with glucose which is sugar your body uses instantly for energy. Your brain remains alert, and your muscles ready for motion when you supply them with enough 'glucose'. However, do not overeat; more is definitely not better. Have only one serving per meal. One serving would be, for example, half a cup of rice, or one small potato. Also, try to avoid fatty additions to these foods. Make a sauce with little or no fat to mix with your pasta. Have potatoes baked in the microwave with the skin instead of french fries. These are just some of the many things you can do to cut out the extra calories and maximize the nutritious quality of your meals.
Choose high fiber foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, breakfast cereals with wheat, corn, oat bran, wholegrain breads and rice, as well as, beans and lentils as in split pea, chick peas, or bean soup. Fiber adds bulk to your diet; so it makes you feel full helping you control your appetite.
Day Before the Wedding
Have no more than two alcoholic drinks. Examples of one drink would be a 340 ml bottle of beer, 125 ml of wine, and or 45 ml of distilled beverage. Although alcohol may reduce feelings of insecurity, tension and discomfort, if taken in excess, it will affect your performance and leave you with a hangover the following day. Waddling down the aisle will not impress your guests or your new spouse. Also, alcohol acts as a diuretic and also raises blood pressure. Therefore, it is wise to avoid excessive amounts. Choose no more than two drinks the night before your wedding day.
If you are going to have coffee, unless decaffeinated, do not have more than you usually have. Caffeine is a stimulant which causes your heart rate to increase; it may keep you awake the night before your wedding. You may be anxious enough; you do not need any extra caffeine. Colas, tea, and some medications also contain caffeine; be aware of this and if you can, avoid them.
Forget taking vitamin and mineral supplements. They do not provide your body with energy; they do not control stress as some labels lead you to believe. Rely on healthy foods to give your body the energy, vitamins and minerals it needs.
Pack some food and beverages for the time period between your ceremony and the reception. (Refer to suggestions below.)
Avoid trying new foods. You may not digest them well and experience abdominal discomfort.
It is a good idea to exercise the day before your wedding day. Do only as much or slightly more physical activity than you are used to. This is not a day to overexert yourself. If you do , you can expect sore muscles the following day. A good walk on your own will do you wonders, not only physically, but mentally. And after that nice long walk, get a good night's sleep; tomorrow, there will be no time for rest.
Day of the Wedding
Start your day with a good breakfast. Include bread or cereal, fresh fruit, and a glass of milk or an ounce of cheese. Having some high protein source such as peanut butter, cheese, or for instance, a few slices of ham will maintain your energy level until lunch time, that is for about four hours. Avoid having simply a glass of juice or something very sweet. This will give you immediate energy that will not last long, and in about an hour and a half you may feel 'low' or tired and drowsy.
Limit the amount of coffee you have today. Coffee containing caffeine will act as a diuretic and today, above all other days, your body will demand extra fluid since you will be more active. Conversely, if you are a coffee drinker, you should not make your wedding day the day you choose to quit drinking coffee. If you do, you may find yourself suffering from a huge headache, one of the withdrawal symptoms of caffeine.
Pack a lunch and some beverages for the interval between your ceremony and your reception, during the picture-taking session. Good examples of what to pack include: sandwiches that have little or no added fat such as mayonnaise, and finger foods that are easy to handle such as carrot sticks, cheese and crackers. Make sandwiches using lean meats such as black forest ham, pastrami, roast beef, or turkey. Pack some fresh fruits; many are good sources of potassium, a mineral that is beneficial for those hot days when your body loses more water.
For beverages, include fruit juices and water. If you find you are sweating excessively and feel very thirsty, drinking diluted juice with a little salt added will help replenish body water. A third of a teaspoon per liter of diluted juice will act to rehydrate your body. Try to avoid pop. If you choose to have pop, limit the amount you drink; the carbonated beverages may cause bloating, especially on such a highly stressful day.
Tip: Eating small meals or snacks throughout the day will help you if you are extremely tense and have a poor appetite.
Enjoy your wedding day, take good care of yourselves. You are sure to give your guests something to talk about: an amazingly energetic bride and groom with so much life and love to share. They are sure to remember your wedding day. And most importantly, you are sure to remember and cherish every precious moment of this very special day of yours.
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